Crazy Taxi: Alive and Well on the PSP

 

It may look a bit fuzzier and a tad more jagged than you remember, but Sega's excavating Crazy Taxi out of its shallow grave and onto the PSP with the help of Sniper Studios. Titled Crazy Taxi: Fare Wares, it's essentially a best-of compilation, including maps and mini-games from Crazy Taxi and Crazy Taxi 2 with none of that lackluster Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller nonsense. There's even an ad-hoc multiplayer mode thrown in for good measure.

However, it remains to be seen how the game's frantic pace will translate to the PSP's sometimes meddlesome d-pad and analog stick or if nasty load times will interrupt the action. If nothing else, it certainly sounds like the best portable Crazy Taxi yet, though given the competition that's not really saying much.

Full release after the jump.

The Fare Frenzy Returns With SEGA's Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars For The PSP® System

All-New Multiplayer Modes and Features for Cabbies on the Go

LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (January 11, 2007) – SEGA® Europe Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars coming exclusively to the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system. All-new twists have been included in the classic Crazy Taxi experience including for the first time, multiplayer modes that allow two people to play cooperatively or competitively. Now gamers can relive the addictive, action packed gameplay of the original Dreamcast games, Crazy Taxi and Crazy Taxi 2, on the go. Hang up those fuzzy dice and register for a cabbie license this Summer with Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars developed by Sniper Studios.

Only skilled cabbies need apply for Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars, where drivers need to be more aggressive than ever to earn the big money by speeding fares to their destination, no matter what the obstacles. Brand new multiplayer gameplay features provide endless entertainment, players can steal passengers from other cabbies by bumping their opponent’s car creating chaotic competition on the road! Navigating through traffic, hills, and obstacles isn’t easy, so it takes a skilled cabbie with no fear to earn the big bucks. Players can drive through the two original maps of Crazy Taxi, the arcade map and the original Dreamcast map, both inspired by the steep hills, trademark cable cars, and breezy waterfront of San Francisco. Then they’ll head for the Small Apple maps in Crazy Taxi 2, which is inspired by New York’s large building fronts, hectic downtown streets, and the city’s famous Central Park and subway system.

“We’ve often thought that the sublime playability of our Crazy Taxi franchise was perfectly suited to the PSP format. Now with new gameplay features and including superb multiplayer modes we’re really confident that gamers will agree” commented Matt Woodley, Creative Director SEGA Europe. “The heady mix of competitive gameplay and vibrant graphics makes this a winner, in my humble opinion!”

Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars offers cabbies several single player modes including the mission-based Arcade mode, where skilled drivers earn time bonuses, and Time Trial mode where drivers collect the highest fares possible in the time allowed. In addition, for cabbies to practice their crazy driving skills, two mini-game training modes are available. They include Crazy Box, a collection of 16 original Crazy Taxi mini-games and Crazy Pyramid, mini-games arranged in a pyramid that drivers must complete to unlock more mini-games from Crazy Taxi 2.

Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars introduces new multiplayer modes for two cabbies to collaborate or compete wirelessly via Ad Hoc. Drivers can also record and save gameplay replays of their driving performance in Crazy Taxi 2 on the PSP system's memory stick to replay and show off.

Source: Crazy Taxi: Alive and Well on the PSP
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:28:11 GMT